JP5636899B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for managing an electronic mail that can specify a reply address.

  In recent years, workflow systems and the like have been widely used in general with the spread of network technology. Patent Document 1 proposes an e-mail-based workflow system without introducing a dedicated mailer.

JP 2002-73419 A

  In Patent Document 1, when a message is transmitted from a system to a user, the header information of the email is changed and transmitted based on the rules of the email so that the reply destination is the workflow system.

  However, since the mail system used is different depending on the recipient of the e-mail, it may not be processed according to this rule.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an e-mail management system capable of normally performing e-mail replies regardless of the environment of the e-mail recipient in an e-mail system operated by changing a reply address. For the purpose.

An information processing apparatus capable of setting a specific address used for a reply in header information of an email and transmitting the email, and replying to an address set as a “reply to address” of the header information destination information storage means for address information is stored can not be, a destination specifying unit for specifying the destination of the electronic mail to be transmitted, the identified destination by the destination specifying means, stored in said destination information storage means When it is assumed that the address can be returned to the address set in the “Reply-To Address” by the destination information, the specific address used for the reply is set as the “Reply-To Address” in the header information, is a destination that can not be returned to the address set in the "return address" by the destination of the information stored in the destination information storage unit Header information setting means for setting the "source address", the header information setting said destination specifying unit email header information is set by means of the header information specific addresses used for the reply when it is Transmission control means for controlling to transmit to the destination specified by.

  According to the present invention, a reply by electronic mail can be normally performed regardless of the environment of the recipient of the electronic mail.

It is a figure showing an example of the composition of the workflow system concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the information processing apparatus which can apply the mail server in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus which can apply the workflow server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an image figure which shows the whole flow of the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the email transmission screen in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the approver designation | designated screen in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the reception screen of the approver in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the reply screen of the approver in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the reception screen of the approver in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the workflow definition in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the designation | designated destination list | wrist in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the drafting process in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the workflow process in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a mail transmission process to the approver in the workflow system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a workflow system according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the workflow system is in a state where a mail server 101, a workflow server 102, a web mail server 103, a client terminal 104, and a mobile terminal 105 can be connected via a network 100.

  The mail server 101 is a mail server that mainly receives mail transmission / reception by installing mail software in a client terminal, and also receives mail transmission / reception from the web mail server 103.

  The web mail referred to in the present invention refers to a web mail system that can be used from the web browser of the client terminal 104 or the mobile terminal 105. Browsing received mail and creating / sending new messages can be done only with a web browser.

  Unlike mail clients that install mail software on client terminals and manage mail transmission / reception, all mail transmission / reception is managed on the server side, so users can create and receive mail anywhere using a web browser. It is possible to browse.

  The workflow server 102 is a server that controls a drafted workflow using electronic mail. A workflow draft is received from a drafter using the client terminal 104 or the portable terminal 105, or the accepted workflow is transmitted to an approver using an e-mail.

  The client terminal 104 and the mobile terminal can directly send / receive mail to / from the mail server 101 using mail software, and can communicate with the web mail server 103 using a browser.

  The connection form of the client terminal 104 and the mobile terminal 105 to the network 100 may be wired, wireless, or a telephone line.

  Further, the functions of the web mail server 103 and the workflow server may be configured on the same housing as the mail server 101.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the mail server 101 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an information processing apparatus to which a mail server can be applied in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Note that the block diagram of FIG. 2 is also applicable to various servers and terminals.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mail server 101 is connected to a CPU (Central Processing) via a system bus 204.
A configuration in which a unit (201), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, an input controller 205, a video controller 206, a memory controller 207, a communication I / F controller 208, and the like are employed.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204.

The ROM 202 or the external memory 211 has a BIOS (Basic) that is a control program for the CPU 201.
An input / output system (OS), an OS (operating system), and various programs (to be described later) necessary for realizing functions executed by each server or each PC are stored.

  Further, information necessary for carrying out the present invention is stored. The external memory may be a database.

  The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program or the like necessary for executing the processing from the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 to the RAM 203 and executing the loaded program.

  The input controller 205 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 209 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown).

  The video controller 206 controls display on a display device such as the display 210. The display device may be a display device such as a liquid crystal display. These are used by the administrator as needed.

The memory controller 207 is an external storage device (hard disk (HD)), flexible disk (FD), or PCMCIA (Personal) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like.
Controls access to an external memory 211 such as a Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory connected to a Computer Memory Card International Association) card slot via an adapter.

The communication I / F controller 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network (for example, the LAN 400 shown in FIG. 1), and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, TCP / IP (Transmission
Communication using Control Protocol / Internet Protocol is possible.

  The CPU 201 can display on the display 210 by executing an outline font rasterization process on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. Further, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction using a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display 210.

  Various programs to be described later for realizing the present invention are stored in the external memory 211 and are executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary.

  Furthermore, definition files and various information tables used when executing the program are also stored in the external memory 211, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus to which the workflow server according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

  The hardware configuration such as the CPU 201 in FIG. 2 is a software configuration that functions by operating in cooperation with each other.

  The workflow server 103 includes a workflow control unit 301, a case control unit 302, and a mail management unit. In addition, a workflow management DB 311, a case management DB, and a destination designation master 312 are stored as databases.

  Various databases can be stored in the hard disk of the document management apparatus 103 or the like. It is possible to have other databases as needed.

  The workflow management DB 311 is a database for managing a workflow issued by a drafter from the client terminal 104 or the portable terminal 105. Although details will be described later, various settings such as an approval route and a current state are managed.

  The case management DB 312 is a database of cases for which approval is required in the workflow system. This is a database for managing the body text and attachments that require approval.

  In the designated destination master 313, a specific domain, an e-mail address, a work item ID of the workflow, and the like are set. Although details will be described later, the mail header is changed when the approval mail is transmitted to the destination specified here.

The workflow control unit 301 controls the workflow according to the workflow settings registered in the workflow management DB.

  The case control unit 302 controls the data of the case stored in the case management DB. For example, when an attached file is attached to the approval request issued, control is performed such as attaching the file to the approval request mail.

  The mail management unit 303 confirms the reception of the mail addressed to the workflow server, or sets the reply mail address of the approval mail to be sent to the approver.

  FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing an overall flow of the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the figure, the server side includes a web mail server 103, a workflow server 102, and a mail server 101. The web mail server 103 provides a web mail system. The workflow server stores a workflow approval route and the like. The mail server 101 is set with a workflow control account 402 of this workflow system.

  The various DBs 401 are the databases described in FIG. 3 and are stored in the workflow server 102. The various DBs 401 need only be referred to by the workflow server 102, and may be stored anywhere such as other servers.

  Various terminals are connected to these servers via the network 100. The client device 104 and the portable terminal 105 can be used for various terminals.

As users of various terminals, there are “workflow system administrator” 410, “former” 411, “approver 1” 412, “approver 2” 413, “approver 3” 414, and the like. Become a user.
Hereinafter, the flow of the wharf claw will be described.

  In STEP 1, the drafter 411 drafts a workflow using web mail. The drafter creates a workflow using the mail creation screen for webmail, sets an approver, and transmits it to the webmail server 103. Next, the API of the workflow server 102 is called from the web mail server 103, and a workflow is started.

  When the workflow server 102 receives the draft request API call, the content is analyzed, the approval route and the content are registered in various DBs 401 such as the workflow management DB and the case management DB, and the approval request is sent to the approver 1 through the mail server 101. Send an email.

  It is also possible to configure so that the drafter's request is not sent to the web mail server 103 but is sent directly to the workflow server 102.

  In STEP 2, the approver 1 who has received the approval request mail performs approval by web mail from the browser. Specifically, a reply to approve is returned. The mail client to be used may be a web mail or a mailer (hereinafter referred to as a mailer) that is installed in the client and used.

  The approver 1 receives the approval request mail by the web mail, and if it is the approval, inputs “approval” in the text on the reply screen of the approval request mail and returns the mail. At this time, the reply destination is the workflow control account 402. In case of denial, enter “denial” in the text and reply.

  The workflow server 102 periodically checks whether a mail has arrived at the workflow control account 402 of the mail server 101. If the mail has arrived, the workflow server 102 receives the mail and analyzes the contents.

  When an “approval” mail is received, if there is a next approver, an approval request mail is sent to the next approver through the mail server 101. This embodiment demonstrates the case where an approval request mail is transmitted with respect to the approver 2 which is the next approver.

  If “denied” is received or if all workflow approvals have been completed, the process is terminated, or post-processing is executed if set.

  In STEP 3, the approver 2 who has received the approval mail approves the mobile terminal from the outside. The approver 2 receives the approval request mail on the mobile terminal, inputs “approval” in the text on the reply screen of the approval request mail, and returns the mail. At this time, the reply destination is the workflow control account 402.

  The workflow server 102 periodically checks whether a mail has arrived at the workflow control account 402 of the mail server 101. If the mail has arrived, the workflow server 102 receives the mail and analyzes the contents.

  When an “approval” mail is received, if there is a next approver, an approval request mail is sent to the next approver through the mail server 101. In the present embodiment, a case where an approval request mail is transmitted to the next approver 3 that is the next approver will be described.

  Here, the mobile terminal communicates using the public network line 403. However, the mobile terminal can be applied to any telephone line or wireless LAN as long as communication is possible. It shall be included in the definition of

  The approver 3 performs approval from the mailer. The approver 3 receives the approval request mail by the mailer, inputs “approval” in the text on the reply screen of the approval request mail, and returns the mail. At this time, the reply destination is the workflow control account 402.

  The workflow server periodically checks whether a mail has arrived at the workflow control account of the mail server, and if it arrives, receives the mail and analyzes the contents. In the present embodiment, a case where there is no next approver will be described.

  The workflow server 102 determines that the approval is completed, changes the workflow state to approved, and sends all approval completion mails to the drafter. If there is a related process, the related process is performed.

  In each STEP, it has been described that the reply destination for the approval request mail is the workflow control account 402. However, when specifying the reply destination, it is possible to reply from the approval request mail received by each approver using the reply menu. It is desirable.

  Specifically, it depends on whether or not the e-mail system used by each approver can reply to the address set as the reply-to address (Reply-To).

  The reply destination address is a field that can be designated by a rule (RFC) regarding the format of the mail address.

  By designating a reply address in this field, for example, in this embodiment, the originator of the workflow is set as the sender address (From) of the email, and the workflow control account 402 is set as the reply address. Can do. According to this, the approver and the reply address can be notified separately to the approver.

  However, there are domains and mail clients that do not operate as expected even if the field is set according to the mail address format rules. When the source address (From) is used as the reply destination address, the workflow stops there and does not operate normally.

  In the present invention, in order to prevent this, when sending an approval request mail to the next approver in each STEP, the mail system used by the approver determines whether or not this rule is observed, and changes the mail header. Is going. Details will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail transmission screen in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a mail creation screen. The mail creation screen is displayed on the browser of the client terminal 104 by transmitting screen information from the web mail server 103 based on an acquisition request from the client terminal 104.
Reference numeral 501 denotes a send button for sending an e-mail.

  Reference numeral 502 denotes a button for displaying a transmission content confirmation screen for confirming the created mail before transmission.

  Reference numeral 503 denotes an operation switching tab. In this figure, since the “Create Mail” tab is displayed in the foreground, it is clear that the mail creation screen is displayed. In this way, the operation switching tab is displayed larger than the other tabs with the tab of the currently displayed screen as the front row.

Reference numerals 504, 505, and 506 denote a destination button, a CC (abbreviation for Carbon Copy) button, and a BCC (Blind), respectively.
(Carbon Copy) button. These buttons are displayed in the search result display field 507 of the search result by a word input in a search text box 511 described later, and the personal address or group address displayed in 507 is designated as the mail destination. It is a button to be pressed when doing.

  When the user selects a desired search result from the search results displayed in 507 and presses any of the destination button 504, the Cc button 505, and the Bcc button 506, the “destination box” on the right side of the mail creation screen 500, The selected personal address or group is entered in “Cc box” and “Bcc box”.

  Reference numeral 511 denotes an address search text box, and 510 is a search button for executing a search for a personal address or group based on the search condition input in 511.

  Reference numeral 508 denotes a destination box indicating a destination of a mail created on the mail creation screen 500. The destination box is composed of “destination box”, “Cc box”, and “Bcc box”. The personal address or group displayed in the above-mentioned 507 is selected, the destination button 504, the Cc button 505, and the Bcc button. When one of the buttons 506 is pressed, the selected individual address or group is entered in the “destination box”, “Cc box”, and “Bcc box” on the right side of the mail creation screen 500, respectively.

  Reference numeral 509 denotes an edit text box for editing the body of a mail created on the mail creation screen 500.

  When the workflow button 512 is pressed, a screen for designating an approver of the workflow is created and displayed by the web mail server 103. Details will be described later.

  Although not shown in particular numbers, as shown in the figure, the mail creation screen 500 has a mail sender box (the personal address of the user who is logged in to the web mail system may be set). Normally, it is desirable to have an email subject box and an attachment confirmation box that indicates the storage location of the attachment when attaching the material to the email.

  The address input method to the address box 508 is automatically input when the individual address or group displayed in 507 is selected and any of the address button 504, Cc button 505, and Bcc button 506 is pressed. And a method of directly inputting a destination by a user's keyboard operation. In addition to the above-described method, there is also a method of instructing a destination from a menu displayed when a right click instruction is received by a controller (mouse) operation.

  In this drawing, the web mail screen has been described as an example. However, in the case of a normal e-mail client, the workflow button is not displayed, so the same processing can be performed by separately starting a menu for designating an approver. It can be performed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an approver designation screen in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The approver designation screen 600 is displayed when the workflow button 512 is pressed from the mail creation screen of FIG.

  In the approver designation field 601, a user who wants to set as an approver is selected. As a selection method, there are “add row”, “address book”, “direct input”, and the like.

  When “add row” is selected, an approver field 602 for inputting an approver is added. When “Address Book” is selected, an address book screen (not shown) is displayed, and an approver can be selected. The selected approver is added to the approver field 602. When “direct input” is pressed, a cursor is displayed or the like, so that the approver field 602 can be directly input.

  The approver field 602 includes an approver name field 603 and an approver address 604. The user designated here is registered as an approver in the workflow management DB as a workflow definition.

  As options, "Get approval from all members" 605, "Set as an approver in order from above" 606, "Automatically send to destination when approval" 606, and the like can be selected.

  If “obtain approval of all” 605 is checked, approval request mails are transmitted all at once to obtain approval of all the set approvers. At that time, the order of approval does not matter.

  When “Set as approver in order from the top” 606 is checked, the approver 1 · 2 · 3 is set from the top in the order registered in the approver column 602.

  If “Send automatically when the approval is obtained” 606 is checked, the mail is sent to the address set in the original mail creation screen 500 that called this screen after the approval is completed normally. Send. At this time, the e-mail to be sent is stored in a state where the destination and the text are set and can be sent.

  After setting the approver and options, the user presses an OK button 607 to transmit to the workflow server 102 and store the workflow definition. When a cancel button 608 is pressed, the original setting is canceled and the original screen is restored.

  Note that options can be set other than this, and exclusive control can be performed so as not to contradict each other.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an approver's reception screen in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the invention.

  This email is sent to the approver when the approver is designated from the screen of FIG. 6 and the workflow definition is set by the workflow server 102. As specified in FIG. 6, the present embodiment will be described assuming that the workflow is defined in the order of approver 1 → approver 2 → approver 3.

  The received mail screen 700 is a received mail screen of “shonin1@mail.com” that is the approver 1.

  The approver can reply to the workflow system by entering “approval” or “denial” in the mail text field 705 and pressing the reply button 701.

  In the operation switching tab, a mail list menu 702 is selected, and a mail to be displayed can be selected in the mail list area 703.

  In the mail header field 704, a header set in the workflow server 102 is displayed.

  The subject is given a workflow ID “Flow001 ...” so that it can be understood that it is a workflow matter.

  The sender is set to “morioka@mail.com”, which is the originator of the workflow, and the reply address (Reply-To) is set to “system@mail.com”, which is the workflow control account. . In the present embodiment, the address of the drafter of the workflow is set as the mail sender.

  The attached file and the contents written in the mail body column 705 are managed by the case management DB 312.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an approver reply screen in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  It is the mail transmission screen 800 displayed when the reply button 701 is pressed from the received mail screen 700 of FIG.

  In the operation switching tab, the mail creation menu 801 is selected, and mail transmission is performed when the transmission button 802 is pressed.

  In the sender column 803, the mail address of the approver 1 is set. In the destination column 804, “system@mail.com” specified in the reply address is set in the approval request mail 1. With this setting, the mail is sent to the workflow control account.

  In the text field 805, “approval” is written, and in this embodiment, the approver 1 enters it by handwriting. In addition, the web mail server may display a menu such as a button and select approval / disapproval. In addition, by setting rules in operation, approval / disapproval can be determined by numbers and symbols.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an approver's reception screen in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  A received mail screen 900 is a mail screen received by the approver 2 at the mobile terminal. In the header column 901, the header set in the workflow server 102 is displayed. In addition, the description of the same screen as that in FIG. 7 is omitted.

  This mail screen 900 is a screen of an email sent from the reply screen shown in FIG. 8 by the approver 1 to the workflow control account and analyzed by the workflow server 102 and sent to the approver 2 as the next approver. is there.

  The recipient of this mail, “shonin2@dodo.ne.jp”, is registered in the system as an address that cannot execute the mail rules described later. Therefore, when sending the approval request mail to the approver 2, the workflow server 102 designates the sender address, not the workflow drafter, but the address necessary for the progress of the workflow.

  Specifically, “system@mail.com” is set. Thereby, even when the mail system used by the approver 2 cannot use the reply address, the mail is normally sent back to the workflow control account, so that the workflow system can be operated normally.

  At that time, since the approver 2 does not know who the workflow drafter is, a workflow drafter field is provided in the mail text field 902. If the originator address of the workflow is displayed here, it becomes possible to know from the mail body who is the approval request.

  As with the approver 1, when replying, manually inputting approval / disapproval and pressing a reply button 903, the reply is sent to the workflow control account.

  On this screen, the workflow server 102 determines that the mobile terminal cannot receive the attached file, and no mail is attached. It is also possible to notify the URL for downloading the attached file and download it separately.

  The reply screen of the approver 2, the reception screen and the reply screen of the approver 3 are the same as those of the approver 1 and the approver 2, and will be omitted. In this embodiment, the approver 1 uses web mail, the approver 2 uses a mobile terminal, and the approver 3 uses normal client mail. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any mail system may be used as long as it can receive mail addressed to each approver.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a workflow definition in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The workflow definition is stored in the hard disk of the workflow server 102 and can be confirmed from a web mail client or dedicated software.

  The workflow management menu 1000 is displayed on the client device 103 or the mobile terminal 104 using a web browser or the like.

  When a workflow list menu 1001 is pressed, the workflow status set in the workflow server 102 is displayed in the workflow list 1003. In the figure, it can be seen that “Flow001” and “Flow002” are set.

  When a workflow is selected and an open button 1004 is pressed, detailed information on the workflow is displayed.

  1005 is detailed information of “Flow001”, and 1006 is detailed information of “Flow002”. The detailed information stores the originator address of the workflow, the condition, level, approver, approver address, and status specified on the approver designation screen.

  In the level, you can see whether approval is required in turn or whether approval is required for all members at once. In “Flow001”, it is understood that approval is received in the order of level 1 → level 2 → level 3.

  In “Flow 002”, since the level is the same, it is understood that everyone receives approval. In this case, the workflow server sends an approval request mail to all the approvers all at once.

  The approver and the approver address are specified on the approver designation screen.

  The status column stores what the approver's approval status is, and the workflow server 102 updates the status when a reply to the mail is received from the approver.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the designated destination list in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The designated destination list 1100 is a list of settings in which the reply destination address cannot be used.

  The designated destination domain 1101 indicates that a mail addressed to this domain cannot use a reply address. The address designation mail address 1102 indicates that a reply address cannot be used for mail addressed to this mail address.

  The designated destination workflow ID 1103 indicates that the reply destination address is not used for the workflow designated here.

  Note that the case where the reply destination address is not set is not limited to the above-described conditions, and various other cases can be set.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of drafting processing in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  This process starts with the workflow button displayed from the webmail screen.

  In step S1201, it is determined whether the workflow button has been pressed. If the workflow button is not pressed, normal mail processing is performed, and processing is performed in step S1206.

  On the other hand, if a workflow is selected, an approver selection screen 600 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed in step S1202. It is also possible to display from a screen other than the web mail screen. For example, the same processing is performed when the drafting menu 1002 of the workflow in FIG. 10 is pressed.

  In step S1203, an input to the displayed approver selection screen is accepted, and in step S1204, the input is transmitted to the workflow server 102.

  In step S1205, the workflow server 102 that has accepted the transmission starts workflow processing. The workflow process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of workflow processing in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Steps S1301 to S1310 are executed by the workflow server 102, and steps S1311 and S1312 are executed on the client side of the client terminal 104 or the portable terminal 105.

  First, in step S1301, a draft request for a workflow is received from the drafter.

  In step S1302, the workflow definition including the approval route is stored in the workflow management DB. At the same time, the contents of the case are stored in the case management DB. The workflow management DB and the case management DB can be managed as the same database.

  In step S1303, an e-mail is transmitted to the approver. Detailed processing will be described later.

  In step S1312, the client that has received the approval request mail in step S1311 returns the approval / denial determination result input by the approver to the workflow server in step S1312. The reply at this time is performed using the reply function of the mail system of each terminal.

  In step S1304, the workflow server 102 receives an approval / denial email from the client. As described with reference to FIG. 4, this is realized by periodically checking the mail addressed to the workflow control account of the mail server 101.

  By analyzing the mail received in step S1304, in step S1305, the reply content from the approver is registered in the workflow management DB. For example, in the case of approval, the status column in FIG. 10 is approved.

  In step S1306, it is determined whether the workflow approval process is completed. Examples include cases where approval of all approvers has ended, or ends due to denial.

  If it is determined in step S1306 that the approval has not been completed, the process returns to step S1303, and an approval request mail is transmitted to the next approver.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the approval has been completed, the process advances to step S1307 to notify the workflow drafter that the approval process has been completed. Of course, it is also possible not to notify.

  In step S1308, the status of the workflow management DB is updated. The status column is updated as in step S1305. If there is a preset state (status), for example, “approval end”, “approval completion”, “denial”, etc. may be set.

  In step S1309, it is determined whether there is a related process. The related process is a process such as “automatically send to destination when approval is obtained” specified on an approver designation screen or the like. It is stored in the detailed information of the workflow in FIG.

  For example, it is possible to create a mail, have the supervisor approve whether or not to send the mail, and automatically send it when the approval is obtained.

  If the related process is set, the related process is performed in step S1310. If not set, the process ends.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of mail transmission processing to the approver in the workflow system according to the embodiment of the present invention. This corresponds to the mail transmission process for the approver in step S1303 of FIG.

  In step S1401, an approver is specified. Specifically, the determination is made based on the workflow definition in the workflow management DB and the state of the workflow. For example, in the state of “Flow001” in FIG. 10, when a reply to the approval request mail is received from the approver 2, the approval request mail is transmitted to the unprocessed approver 3.

  In step S1402, it is determined whether the transmission destination of the approval request mail is a designated destination. Specifically, it is determined whether it is included in the designated destination list shown in FIG. If it is included in this list, the reply address cannot be used.

  In step S1402, when the transmission destination of the approval request mail is included in the designated destination, the reply destination address cannot be used, so the workflow control account is set in the From header.

  On the other hand, if it is not included in the designated destination list, the process proceeds to step S1406, the address of the workflow originator is set in the From header, and the workflow control account of the reply address (Reply-To) is set in step S1406. .

  In step S1404, other headers and text are specified. If there is an attached file, set the attachment here. The attached file and text are acquired from the case management DB.

  In step S1405, the mail is transmitted to the mail server 101 with the set contents, and the process is terminated.

Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to a workflow system, and can be applied to any system that transmits and receives mail using a return address, such as a mailing list system. It is.

  In this case, for example, when sending to an address included in the designated destination list, a mailing list management account may be set for the sender (From address) without setting a reply address.

In addition, the present invention can take the form of, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. In addition, the present invention may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  The program according to the present invention is a program that can be executed by a computer according to the processing method of the flowchart shown in the present invention. The storage medium according to the present invention stores a program that can be executed by a computer. The program in the present invention may be a program for each processing method of each device.

  As described above, the storage medium storing the program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the reading.

  In this case, the program itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon A disk, solid state drive, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on an instruction of the program is actually It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading a program for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Network 101 Mail server 102 Workflow server 103 Web mail server 104 Client terminal 105 Portable terminal

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus that can set a specific address used for reply in the header information of an email and send the email,
Destination information storage means in which information on a destination that cannot be replied to the address set in the “reply destination address” of the header information is stored;
A destination specifying means for specifying a destination of the e-mail to be transmitted;
When the destination specified by the destination specifying means is a destination that can be returned to the address set in the “return destination address” by the destination information stored in the destination information storage means, it is used for the reply. A specific address that is set as the “reply-to address” of the header information, while the address that cannot be returned to the address set as the “reply-to address” by the destination information stored in the destination information storage means header information setting means for setting the specific address used in the reply to the "source address" of the header information when it is to be the,
Transmission control means for controlling the e-mail whose header information is set by the header information setting means to be transmitted to the destination specified by the destination specifying means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The header information setting means controls to display the address of the sender of the e-mail in the body of the e-mail when the specific address is set to “ source address ”. Item 6. The information processing apparatus according to Item 1. The information processing apparatus manages transmission / reception of electronic mail in a workflow system using electronic mail,
Workflow drafting means for drafting a workflow by accepting the approver settings,
Workflow control means for managing an approver drafted by the workflow drafting means;
An approval request mail sending means for sending an approval request mail to an approver managed by the workflow control means,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the header information setting unit sets a workflow drafter as a sender of the electronic mail. The information processing apparatus stores a sendable e-mail created in advance,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein if it is determined that the workflow system has approved, the stored electronic mail is transmitted. A specific address used for reply is set in the header information of the email and the email can be sent, and information on the destination that cannot be sent back to the address set in the “reply to address” of the header information is stored. An information processing apparatus having a destination information storage means,
A destination specifying step for specifying a destination of the e-mail to be transmitted;
When the destination specified in the destination specifying step is determined to be a destination that can be returned to the address set in “Reply-to address” by the destination information stored in the destination information storage means, it is used for the reply. A specific address that is set as the “reply-to address” of the header information, while the address that cannot be returned to the address set as the “reply-to address” by the destination information stored in the destination information storage means header information setting step of setting a specific address used for the reply to the "source address" of the header information when it is to be the,
A transmission control step for controlling the e-mail in which the header information is set by the header information setting step to be transmitted to the destination specified by the destination specifying step;
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising: A specific address used for reply is set in the header information of the email and the email can be sent, and information on the destination that cannot be sent back to the address set in the “reply to address” of the header information is stored. A program readable by an information processing apparatus having a destination information storage means,
The information processing apparatus;
A destination specifying means for specifying a destination of the e-mail to be transmitted;
When the destination specified by the destination specifying means is a destination that can be returned to the address set in the “return destination address” by the destination information stored in the destination information storage means, it is used for the reply. A specific address that is set as the “reply-to address” of the header information, while the address that cannot be returned to the address set as the “reply-to address” by the destination information stored in the destination information storage means header information setting means for setting the specific address used in the reply to the "source address" of the header information when it is to be the,
Transmission control means for controlling the e-mail whose header information is set by the header information setting means to be transmitted to the destination specified by the destination specifying means;
A program for causing a computer to function as an information processing apparatus.   A storage medium storing the program according to claim 6.

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